Hello all,

Time has come to change my tires for the first time in the 3 years that I've owned my Camaro. The vendor from whom the previous car owner bought these tires, says that this tire size is now unavailable in any brand (other vendors too say the same thing). It's the stock size of 245/50/R16. The Vendor gives me an alternative to fix 235/60/R16 instead. He says that the tire can be slightly stretched over my rims in order to fit it since it is slightly smaller.

The tire will also make the car about half or one centimeter higher. As per everyone's opnion, is there any risk in fitting this size over my current rims? Will the tires look normal after fitting it?

Thanks for any feedback. Cheers.

 

I have 245/45/16 on my z right now. The stock size is more narrow and taller or higher profile. For better handling, I like the size I have. The only thing is that nobody carries it. I have Fuzion's, which are cheap, handle well and wear slowly even under smoky conditions. If you go with the 235/60/16, you will have less tread on the ground and less handling in the turn with the high sidewall. Put it this way....my Yukon XL has a 60 sidewall.

 

First, verify that your car left the factory with 245/50-16 tires. It will show RPO "QLC" on nthe build code tag. Once you have verified that, you pick a tire that has the SAME diameter as the stock tire = 25.65"

Not sure why you would want anything other than the stock 245/50-16. Tire Rack lists 21 different tires currently available in that size. Anyone who tells you otherwise it BS'ing you. Or maybe they just stopped importing them into Dubai????

A 245/45-16 is a bad choice, because it is 1" smaller in diameter than the stock tire. Requires a recalibration of the speedometer, and increases the already too big gap between the tire tread and the fender. Tire Rack lists 5 street tires in that size, including the Fuzion.

235/60-15 would be an even worse choice, because that tire is 1.5" larger than stock diameter. A 235/55-16 would be closer, and that is what was used as the STOCK tire size on the "base" V8 4th Gens. You only got the 245/50-16's with the Z-rated tire option.

 

thanks for the feedback above. In fact my tire guy fixed 225/55/16 on all fours. had no choice as he says rims are an odd size (rightfully), and he suggested this.
I think the traction has improved despite it being marginally narrower, which probably is because of the new tread. And its a slightly cushier ride as its a marginally higher profile than the previous ones. Not really what I wanted for the car (prospects of lesser traction in future etc) but i guess i'm stuck with this for the next 3 or so years.

 

oh and another point. The tire pressure that is specified by the manufacturer which had been applied to the stock tires all this while, would it be the same for the new size as well (30kpa for both front and rear)?

thanks.

 

My car came with 235/55-16 stock- even on the Z- I immeadiately changed them to the 'other' stock size, 245/50-16, and, have since gone to 17's- either 275 or 285/40-17-

If you make sure the tire diameter is the same, shouldn't make much difference- if you change the diameter, you have just effectively changed your car's gearing-